Summary
- Revenge-driven plots offer game developers moral ambiguity for storytelling.
- Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor, Far Cry 3, and Ghost of Tsushima use the revenge trope.
- Mad Max, Watch Dogs, and Prototype also incorporate revenge narratives in open-world gameplay.
There are certain well-known tropes that many games leverage, including open-world games. Tropes such as setting off to free a princess, or embarking on a quest to find hidden treasure. One of the most commonly exploited tropes is setting off to seek revenge for some harm done to the protagonists, their family, or their friends.
6 Saddest Open-World Games, Ranked
Not every open-world game is packed full of action and combat. Some are deeper and can be quite sad as players progress their stories.
A revenge-driven plot for a game opens up some great options for game developers, as the often violent nature of fulfilling a righteous quest opens up questions of morality. This allows game designers to craft a story that sits within the gray area between right and wrong.
7 Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor
Defeat The Dark Forces Of Mordor
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
When J.R.R. Tolkien first came up with his ideas for the fantastical setting of Middle-earth, it is unlikely that he ever imagined that decades later, people would be playing games based on it. Few fantasy lands have been as influential as Middle-earth, spawning movies, TV shows, and numerous games that leverage the lore of the realm.
6 Best Open-World Games To Play As A Thief
Some open-world games offer the player the freedom to do whatever they wish, including becoming a thief.
In Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor, the player takes on the role of a young ranger named Talion. His family has been brutally murdered by Suaron’s forces, and he is out for revenge. But there is a twist. Talion was also killed at the time, but he is brought back to life, and finds he has powers similar to those of the Wring Wraith.
6 Far Cry 3
Avenge The Murder Of A Brother
Far Cry 3
- Released
- November 29, 2012
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Open-World
Taking on the role of Jason Brody, Far Cry 3 players find themselves stranded on a tropical island alone, after his brother has been murdered, and his friends kidnapped. Thus begins an often brutal quest for revenge.
The villain in the game is named Vaas, a local Warlord. The player must seek out Vaas and dish out some retribution. The open-world map is stunning, and populated by many hazards. This includes pirates and mercenaries, as well as wild animals. The story is compelling, as Jason slowly loses the plot and his grip on reality.
5 Ghost Of Tsushima
Set In 13th Century Japan
Ghost of Tsushima
- Released
- July 17, 2020
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
In Ghost of Tsushima, the player is put in the shoes of Jin Sakai, who is a Samurai during the Mongol invasion of Japan in the 13th century. His family and home are destroyed by a group of raiders, and Jin sets out to get some revenge on them.
The open-world game map is exquisitely crafted, with biomes running from villages destroyed by way, through dense forests, to desolate mountains. Stealth and strategy are a large part of this game. Jin’s morality is questioned during the compelling story, and players will need to think carefully about their decisions.
4 Prototype
Become A Shape Shifter
Prototype
Prototype is set in an open-world rendition of the city of New York. It follows the journey of Alex Mercer, as he sets off on a journey to find the people that infected him with a strange virus. This virus has left Alex with superhuman powers, and the ability to shapeshift.
7 Best Open-World Games To Play As A Mercenary
No every game has clear cut morality, some allow the player to take on the role of a mercenary and sell their sword to the highest bidder.
The open-world map is huge, and makes a fantastic backdrop for Alex to exploit his special powers to the max. He can run up buildings and glide between them, and engage in frantic combat with a range of enemies. Overall, this is a great addition to this list, as it is a little different.
3 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
A Linear Open World
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- Released
- March 22, 2019
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice does open-world map design a little differently. The game features a number of maps, that must be completed in a linear fashion, but each of these maps is fully open-world. Each map has secrets and multiple paths the player can take to complete them.
The game follows the adventures of Wold, a shinobi, who is looking for some payback on a clan of samurai that left him at the brink of death whilst kidnapping his lord. The combat in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice can be brutal at times, and requires the player to learn the combat mechanics fully, in order to tackle the toughest battles.
2 Mad Max
A Post-Apocalyptic Open World
Mad Max
- Released
- September 1, 2015
- Developer(s)
- Avalanche Studios
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Open-World
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Many open-world games are set in a post-apocalyptical landscape, but few of them are based on such iconic lore as Mad Max. Playing as the road warrior himself, players embark on a journey seeking revenge on Scabrous Scrotus, who left Max for dead. Max hopes to get his revenge, and then find his peace by reaching the Plains of Silence.
Much of the gameplay revolves around building and upgrading Max’s iconic vehicle, the Magnum Opus. Unsurprisingly, vehicle warfare also forms a large part of the gameplay. The action is fast-paced, as Max tries to find a place in the world, dealing with his grief and trauma.
1 Watch Dogs
Hack The Planet
Watch Dogs
- Released
- May 26, 2014
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action, Adventure
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Aiden Pearce is a hacker, too skilled. He becomes the target of an assassination attempt, during which, his niece is accidentally killed. Understandably, Aiden is rather upset by this, and heads out to find out who ordered the assassination and take his revenge in Watch Dogs.
Best Open-World Games Featuring Dungeons
Taking influence from the same concept in Dungeons and Dragons, dungeons in certain open-world games have become a mainstay.
The open-world map of Chicago makes the perfect, futuristic backdrop to Aiden’s adventures. Much of the gameplay revolves around hacking, and taking control of various parts of the infrastructure of the city to help achieve Aiden’s goals. There are also tons of side quests to be found by exploring the open-world map.
Best Open-World Games With Alien Ecosystems
Some open-world games place the player in strange alien ecosystems that they can explore.